First edition of "the first systematic treatise on mining and metallurgy, and one of the first technological works of modern times" (PMM), an immaculate copy with outstanding provenance. Dealing with "everything connected with the mining industry and metallurgical processes, including administration, prospecting, the duties of officials and companies, and the manufacture of glass, sulphur and alum" (PMM), Agricola's main work paved the way for further systematic study of the earth and of its rocks, minerals, fossils, refinery and oil. Illustrated with 2 plates (one folding) and more than 280 woodcuts in the text attributed to Hans Rudolf Manuel Deutsch (1525-72), some very large, showing the different stages of the extraction and transformation of metals. - From the library of the famous German physician and botanist Joachim Camerarius the Younger (1534-98) with his autograph ownership to the title page ("Joachimo Joach[imi] F[ilio] Camerario"; the Morgan Library holds another book from his library with an identical inscription, cf. Accession no. PML 129904) and a very few underlinings and marginalia most likely also in his hand. Unidentified 18th c. engraved bookplate with the motto "similare nescit" on verso of title. Acquired from the library of Werner Habel, with his stamp, signature and acquisition date (1977) to front pastedown. First and final pages very lightly brownstained in the edges, otherwise clean and crisp throughout. Complete with the two inserted plates following page 100. A very appealing, wide-margined copy in its first binding. {BN#48845}

First translation ever of the principal Renaissance treatise on mining, prepared for German readers by Philipp Bech. Significantly rarer than the Latin first edition (PMM 79) published the previous year, as most of the printed sheets ended up being used for the 1580 second German edition. "A book that has earned its place in history as a masterpiece of Renaissance technical writing and technical illustration" (Hoover). "Treats the entire field of mining and metallurgy, including the overlapping subjects of geology and chemistry, but in particular mechanical engineering and machine technology" (cf. Koch). "Of the 292 woodcuts, 269 concern mining, economic geology, surveying instruments, tools and machinery, mine workings, and even salt production from the sea, a glass foundry, etc. They were cut in Basel after designs by Basilius Wefring of Joachimsthal. At least two known masters had a hand in the woodcuts: the draughtsman H. R. Manuel Deutsch from Bern and the woodcutter Z. Specklin from Strasbourg" (Horst). - Light, mostly even browning throughout; some fingerstaining to title with edges somewhat frayed, but well preserved in the unusual and entirely contemporary limp vellum binding with a generous flap protecting the fore-edge. Early 16th century bibliographical note concerning Porta's "De refractione" penned to lower pastedown. Provenance: early handwritten ownership of "Andreas Virizius" on front pastedown. While the "possessor huius libri" calls himself a "conterfecter" (portrait painter), he may be identical with the like-named student of the Flemish humanist Justus Lipsius who flourished in Danzig around 1599, gave private instruction and produced several translations from Latin into German (cf. Jöcher IV, 1645). {BN#49345}

Very rare Italian edition of the "Kitab al-Jawami", an Arabic work on the interpretation of dreams by an "Achmet, son of Seirim" - almost certainly identical with the 8th century Muslim mystic Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Sirin. The work survived in a Greek translation ("Biblion oneirokritikon") prepared in the 12th century. "The author Ahmed served as interpreter of dreams to Caliph Al-Mamun around 820 [...] The mediaeval conflation of medicine with astrology originated with the Arabs. Through the Salernitanian school, which had many Arabic works translated, the notion reached Europe in the 11th century, where it remained predominant as late as the 17th and 18th century [...] In 1577 J. Loewenklau published a Latin translation of the Oneirokritiká of Ahmed, whom he calls Apomasar" (cf. Schöll). - Slight waterstaining and old ink ownerships and annotations to title page. {BN#48447}

Rare edition of this commentary on the ninth book of the treatise dedicated by ar-Razi (also known as Rhazes; 850-923 or 932) to Almansor, the Prince of Chorosan (with the text). "The manual, known as 'Nonus Almansoris', was popular among mediaeval physicians" (cf. GAL S I, p. 419). The work discusses special pathology but excluding pyrology and was one of the most popular textbooks at medical schools and faculties well into the Middle Ages (cf. Hirsch/H. I, 171). Rhazes is considered the greatest mediaeval physician next to Avicenna; he also conducted alchemical experiments. According to his biographer al-Gildaki, he was blinded for refusing to share his secrets of chemistry. - A woodcut on the final page of the preliminaries depicts ten different surgical instruments, including a tongue depressor, a forceps, and various instruments for cauterization. Several minor waterstains throughout, but generally a fine copy. Provenance: Handwritten ownership of the Jesuit College of Louvain, dated 1637, on the title page. {BN#48706}

Rare edition; a single copy in Great Britain. The "Fortalitatium fidei", the principal work (written c. 1458) of the baptized Spanish Jew de Spina, is considered the "methodical and ideological foundation of the Inquisition. The book, divided into five chapters, targets chiefly Jews and Muslims" (cf. LMA I, 408f.). Of the five books, "the first [is] directed against those who deny the Divinity of Christ, the second against heretics, the third against the Jews, and the fourth against Islam and the Muslims, while the fifth book treats of the battle to be waged against the Gates of Hell. In this last book the author dwells at length upon the demons and their hatred of men; the powers they have over men and the diminution of these powers, owing to the victory of Christ on the Cross, the final condition of the demons, etc." (Catholic Encyclopaedia). "Ouvrage fort curieux de ce théologien espagnol [...] il était dit-on d'origine juive, c'est pour cela que son 'Fortalicium' pèut ètre classé dans une bibliothèque kabbalistique" (Caillet). Part 3, on the iniquities of the Jews, is a veritable encyclopaedia of mediaeval antisemitic libel, containing numbered lists of Jewish "cruelties" and refutations of the Jews' supposed anti-Christian arguments. The section on Islam lists the numerous Saracen wars, while the fifth book is devoted to the battle to be waged against the Gates of Hell and its resident demons, whose population the author calculates at over 133 million; this is one of the earliest printed discussions of witchcraft and a precursor to the "Malleus maleficarum", the first edition of which appeared in the same year as this present edition. - Occasional contemporary ink marginalia (some touched by the binder's knife); some slight worming, confined to blank margins. Some even browning and a weak waterstain, but a very good, wide-margined copy with an 18th century noble collection stamp (crowned Gothic letter G; not in Lugt) on the first leaf. {BN#46737}

This "Fortress of the Faith, against all the enemies of the Christian religion, restraining the rage of Jews and Muslims", written c. 1458, is the principal work of the baptized Spanish Jew de Spina. It is considered the "methodical and ideological foundation of the Inquisition. The book, divided into five chapters, targets chiefly Jews and Muslims" (cf. LMA I, 408f.). Of the five books, "the first [is] directed against those who deny the Divinity of Christ, the second against heretics, the third against the Jews, and the fourth against Islam and the Muslims, while the fifth book treats of the battle to be waged against the Gates of Hell. In this last book the author dwells at length upon the demons and their hatred of men; the powers they have over men and the diminution of these powers, owing to the victory of Christ on the Cross, the final condition of the demons, etc." (Catholic Encyclopaedia). "Ouvrage fort curieux de ce théologien espagnol [...] il était dit-on d'origine juive, c'est pour cela que son 'Fortalicium' pèut ètre classé dans une bibliothèque kabbalistique" (Caillet). Part 3, on the iniquities of the Jews, is a veritable encyclopaedia of mediaeval antisemitic libel, containing numbered lists of Jewish "cruelties" and refutations of the Jews' supposed anti-Christian arguments. The section on Islam lists the numerous Saracen wars, while the fifth book is devoted to the battle to be waged against the Gates of Hell and its resident demons, whose population the author calculates at over 133 million. - Block loosened in places. Clasps missing; binding rubbed but original blind-tooling of boards remains recognizable, even though partly obscured by the 19th century leather that replaced the spine. A fine post-incunabular edition, the final one to appear, embellished with numerous woodcut illustrations. {BN#48723}

Pirated edition of Aretino's "comedie" (the first appeared in Venice in 1553) printed by one of the most rebellious and outspoken of all the Elizabethan printers. Wolfe's production was in all probability chiefly destined for the European continent, as all of Aretino's works had been on the Roman Index since 1558; copies were offered for sale at the Frankfurt Book Fair of 1589. Aretino's comedies are considered the best of his works. They rank among the great works of Renaissance drama, and many of their leading characters were prototypes for later playwrights. ‘La Talanta’, for example, prepared the way for Shakespeare’s character Falstaff. "[U]n frontespizo particolare ad ogni comedia [...] ha al fine una Lettera dell'Aretino a Daniele Barbaro" (Gamba). - One gathering misbound, but a nice complete copy. {BN#14571}

Rare and early edition of a popular guide to religious conduct for young novices and friars, long ascribed to St. Bonaventure, though the authorship of the Franciscan monk David of Augsburg (d. 1272), also active in Regensburg, is today universally accepted. Written in the 1240s, it was instrumental to the spread of Franciscan religious ideas through Europe. ISTC lists eight copies, including the destroyed copy at Leuven University; no copies in Britain or the USA. No copies of this edition in auction records. - Gently washed; a short repaired tear in first leaf. A fine specimen. {BN#49566}

Rare first and only edition of a commentary on book I, fen I of Avicenna's Canon, including the Latin version of the text by Andrea Alpago and Jacob Mantino. Like most of Oddi's work it was published posthumously by his son Marco degli Oddi. "Although in the body of his work much of the time he treated Avicenna with nominal respect, this was apt to be achieved through a procedure of deducing Avicenna's 'real' opinion by consulting Galen. In addition, Oddo Oddi had a long-standing interest in the problem of securing a better Latin text of the Canon (he was on the academic committee that approved Alpago's work and he encouraged Graziolo many years later); he based his exposition on Alpago's text, which he claimed to be in general use, and rather frequently compared the latter's renderings with those of Gerard of Cremona and Jakob Mantino." (Siraisi). Before practicing Medicine in Venice, Oddo degli Oddi (1478-1558) taught classics (Greek and Latin) at the University of Padua. Eventually he went back to Padua, where he taught Medicine. He was a committed supporter of Galen's doctrines. - With owner's inscription on fly-leaf dated 1586, two owner's names on title-page (one struck trough) and some manuscript notes in the margins. Binding slightly wrinkled, but internally in very good condition. {BN#49631}

First issue under this title, previously released as "Expositio in primam fen quarti canonis Avicennae" (1506). A commentary (with the text, in the version of Gerardus Cremonensis) of book four, part (fen) one of Avicenna's systematic "Canon of Medicine", written in Arabic but widely translated throughout the Middle Ages and the basis of medical training in the West as late as the mid-17th century. It continues in use to this day in parts of the Arab world. Through this encyclopedic work, the author exerted "perhaps a wider influence in the eastern and western hemispheres than any other Islamic thinker" (PMM). "The 'Qanun' [...] contains some of the most illuminating thoughts pertaining to distinction of mediastinitis from pleurisy; contagious nature of phthisis; distribution of diseases by water and soil; careful description of skin troubles; of sexual diseases and perversions; of nervous ailments" (Sarton, Introduction to the History of Science). The present part is dedicated to a discussion of feverish illnesses. - 18th century ownership "Manhem" on title page. Some brownstaining throughout, as common; some waterstains near end; occasional inkstains and marginal annotations. An untrimmed, comparatively wide-margined copy. {BN#46144}

The earliest treatise - and only early monograph - on the historical precursor to the modern game of football (or soccer), namely the game of "Calcio" traditionally played by young men in Florence's Piazza Santa Croce during the Carnival season. The book explains the mechanics of the game, provides its historical background, and describes actual games played in and around Florence in the recent past. The detailed account was first published in 1580 and reprinted in 1615, unchanged save for a new dedication and preface by the printer, Cosimo Giunti, who also reveals the author's name as Giovanni de' Bardi, Conte di Vernio. The engraving shows a fine view of the Piazza with the players on the field immediately before kick-off. The title page shows the Medici arms: the book is dedicated to Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany as wife of Cosimo II de' Medici. {BN#49576}